Sam Reinhart broke a 1-1 tie 5:39 into the third period as the Kootenay ICE edged the Spokane Chiefs 2-1 in Cranbrook Friday.
It was Jaedon Descheneau's goal 41 seconds into the game, though, that sent hundreds of teddy bears, toques and mittens flying from the stands as the ICE won for the 11th time in 13 tries on A&W Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Descheneau started the game off with a bang igniting the crowd on the opening shift by scoring his team-leading 16th goal of the season on an odd-man rush. The 19 year-old accepted a pass from linemate Luke Philp, then snapped the puck past Chiefs netminder Garret Hughson in the opening minute of the first period.
Spokane outshot its hosts 32-21 Friday, including a 14-7 advantage in the opening frame, but could not solve Kootenay goaltender Wyatt Hoflin until the final minute of the second period. Chiefs captain Jason Fram put home his fourth goal of the season to put the two sides on level terms after 40 minutes.
Reinhart extended his point streak to twelve games with his third period winner. The ICE captain has recorded at least one point in each of his appearances with the club this season.
Hoflin, meanwhile, shut the door on Spokane in the third period, turning aside all eight shots he faced to preserve the victory. Hughson made 19 saves for Spokane Friday.
Descheneau, who was named the club's Player of the Month for November Friday, upped his point streak to eleven games, while Philp has now put up a point or more in his last six outings.
Kootenay has scored a power-play goal in each of its last nine contests.
UP NEXT: the ICE and Chiefs meet again Saturday in Spokane (8:05 PM, Spokane Arena) before Kootenay wraps up the weekend Sunday at Tri-City.